This is the final week of Symphony Silicon Valley. For me there are three rehearsals, two concerts and I play all of one work. Yep … 3 – 2 – 1! There was actually another rehearsal that I skipped, but that was by choice: I decided that I just couldn’t cancel students yet again on a Wednesday afternoon, so I opted to move down to third oboe, take that rehearsal off and, with permission of the principal, take off the Mendelssohn and have the sub play it instead, as it was the only thing being rehearsed in the afternoon. In addition to the Mendelssohn (which uses two oboes) we are doing a Piazzolla work which uses only one oboe. So again, it’s 3 – 2 – 1! I feel like I’m counting down to zero. And then I’ll be done. For too long.

I’ll have a couple end of July Target summer concerts, and I’ll play (only) one of the “Some Assembly Required” events put on by operamission in New York City (I was hoping to do two, but flights didn’t pan out for that, due to the large increase in cost if I moved dates around to make that happen). It appears Merola is out for me this year, which I’m sorry about; I really enjoy doing that. But I’m not first call there &dash; heck, I’m not even second call. So there you go.

I really wish I’d gotten into the summer music festival thing when I was younger. I probably say this every year, right? But I didn’t so oh well. Money is always tight in summer (most students take off a large chunk of it), but I suppose I should be used to it by now.

I think these symphony concerts should be fun for the listener. First on the program is the Piazzolla and it includes, appropriately, a bandoneon player. The work I’m playing in is by Avner Dorman and it’s a work for orchestra and percussion duo. It’s pretty darn amazing to watch those two musicians … you have to see them (as well as listen, of course!). And finally there’s the Mendelssohn … which, if you know the lyrics, begins “Spaghetti, spaghetti, spaghetti for lunch!” Okay, maybe not really, but I did used to have a book that put words to famous classical works. I wish I’d hung on to it. Rats!

Here’s some of the PIazzolla with the composer at the bandoneon. The picture isn’t great. Neither is the sound. BUT it’s Piazzolla playing it! So there you go …

If you want to watch the other videos there are two more that I’m sure you would easily find if you clicked on the video above and watched on YouTube instead.

I don’t see a video with our percussionists playing the Dorman (I believe they played it at the Cabrillo Festival last year), but here’s the first movement with the duo PercaDu:

And if you want a sample of the Mendelssohn … well … those are plentiful on YouTube!